Ever wonder what it would sound like if a minimalist orchestra held a séance in an empty art-deco auditorium? Yeah, neither did we—but now that ‘Heathen Spirituals’ exists, we can’t stop thinking about it.
Thor & Friends, the mesmerizing instrumental collective led by Austin’s beloved percussion wizard Thor Harris, have just dropped their latest sonic spell ‘Heathen Spirituals’ via Joyful Noise Recordings. It’s a bold, beautiful evolution—what started as a trio of mallet-wielding mystics has now blossomed into a full-blown orchestral force, 13 players strong, conjuring cinematic soundscapes with nothing but wood, metal, and breath.
And here’s the kicker: it was all captured live inside the Jessen Auditorium at the University of Texas, a stunning art-deco hall with just the right mix of echo and ghost energy. No amps. No crowds. Just instruments and air.
This isn’t just a record. It’s a ritual.
The Sound of ‘Heathen Spirituals’
This album flows like a fever dream. The opening track, Anne Sexton’s Glasses, builds slowly into a hypnotic crescendo that feels like the mind cracking open. The title track, Heathen Spiritual, is an apocalyptic lullaby with a swelling choral section that makes you want to cry, levitate, or maybe both. And then there’s Christmas Eve at the Wizard’s House—which sounds exactly like what you hope that would sound like.
The three-track journey clocks in at just over 35 minutes, but time feels… irrelevant. These are sonic spells, not songs.
Who’s Behind the Magic?
At the heart of the ensemble is Thor Harris—craftsman, provocateur, punk rock shaman. You may know him from his work with Swans, Shearwater, or his infamous “How to Punch a Nazi” video (which got him temporarily kicked off Twitter in 2017). But Thor & Friends is something more tender, more elemental. As Harris puts it in the liner notes:
“This is a band about friendship. Should we spend our days making art as mankind careens toward extinction? Absolutely yes.”
Surrounding Thor is a crew of talented misfits: marimba mavens, bowed bass wizards, pedal steel dreamers, and a choir (yes, really) called the Unwound Sound Singers. Think Meredith Monk meets Philip Glass, with a touch of Texas heat and a heavy pour of heart.
TRACKLIST
- Anne Sexton’s Glasses
- Heathen Spiritual
- Christmas Eve at the Wizard’s House
Where to Listen:
You can stream ‘Heathen Spirituals’ now on all the usual suspects: BANDCAMP | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
And if you’re into beautiful physical things, check out the vinyl on Joyful Noise—it’s as gorgeous as it sounds.
C'mon why don't you leave a comment here